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| Approaching Shufat Checkpoint |
When I took three of the new EAs to the Shufat Refugee Camp north of Jerusalem yesterday, we walked through the checkpoint on the way back. It was the fastest crossing I have seen anywhere in the past three months. All four of us passed through the turnstiles and the ID check in just one minute. The new EAs showed their visas; I just showed the cover of my passport. The metal detector was not in use. Would that all checkpoints were so easy to cross, or better yet, removed entirely as part of a just peace.
Shufat, as you may recall from previous blogs, has more than 25,000 refugees crammed into one square kilometer, with an unemployment rate of 40%. The Israeli separation barrier is an ever-present reminder of their marginalized status.
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| Shufat Refugee Camp |
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| Refuse burning near the separation barrier |
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| EAs meet Najah Masalmeh at the cooperative |
We visited the women's embroidery cooperative and met with Najah Masalmeh, who showed us some of their beautiful work. They have a sales outlet in the United States through the United Methodist Church. I bought some gifts for my grandchildren.
Yesterday EAs also returned to Khan al-Ahmar, the Jahalin Bedouin community threatened with forced relocation (see Feb. 10 and 23 blogs).
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| Eid Abu Khamis shows site of proposed forced relocation |
Spokesman Eid Abu Khamis showed us a tentative government plan for moving 800 Bedouin families to a small site north of the village of An Nuwei'ma, north of Jericho, between an aggressive Israeli settlement and a military zone.
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| Proposed layout of relocation site |
He says the plan is the worst yet, because each family would have only one-eighth of an acre, not enough for grazing animals, and different Bedouin groups that do not always see eye-to-eye would be forced to live together. He expects that the proposal will be officially announced in two or three weeks, after which there will be 60 days for public comment. Lawyers for the Jahalin will continue to pursue lawsuits to postpone forced relocation.
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| SodaStream factory in Mishor Adumim |
On the way back to Jerusalem we stopped in the Israeli settlement of Mishor Adumim to see the huge factory that makes SodaStream home soft drink products. Human rights groups in several countries, including the United States, are encouraging consumers to boycott them because they are made in settlements that are illegal under international law.
Good afternoon George, We're back from our two week trip West and I read some of your entries while traveling. This morning as I was reading from the lectionary, I read Col. 1:1-14, I thought of you. I look forward to your return. I sat with Jean yesterday in church and she is doing fine, and looking forward to your return on Sunday as we all are. It has been a long haul for her, I'm sure. I'd like to talk about next steps for you after you've been home for awhile. Daoud will be here from May 28th until the end of June. We're busy planning for his trip which will include preaching at Riverside in NYC.
ReplyDeleteLove, BiLL